This Budget-Friendly Item Is A Must-Have For Temperature Control While RV Camping

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Maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your RV is easily one of the most common challenges you tend to face when you go RV camping. This is especially a problem if you're cruising through a desert or parked in a chilly mountain valley. Without proper preparation, the normal roof vent of your RV can become an easy conduit for heat and cold, ultimately ruining your experience. But then, you can avoid all this by simply getting one helpful item — a vent cover or cushion — which is not only a solution to this potential temperature woe but also budget-friendly and quite easy to install.

Most vent cushions are typically designed to fit well into standard 14" × 14" vent openings, and they're often made of thick foam that is wrapped in soft fabric or reflective material. Their main job is to block sunlight and regulate the entry or escape of heat. So, essentially, they serve as a great hack to keep the your RV cooler in summer and to keep it warmer in winter. On top of that, vent cushions can be instrumental in reducing costs on fuel and electricity, since you wouldn't really have a need to use your air conditioner or heater. And what's more? The vent covers can in fact make your afternoon naps more enjoyable since they also keep away intrusive light or noise coming from outside.

In a few words, the basic function of a vent cushion is to act like a plug and create a barrier between the interior of your RV and the harsh outdoor conditions. It becomes particularly important based on the fact that the standard roof vents that come with your RV typically fall short when it comes to temperature regulation, as they are usually made of thin plastic which provides minimal insulation. While a standard RV vent may be great for ventilation, it doesn't help in terms of extreme temperatures — and this is even more reason why vent cushions are very important.

Many vent cushions are built with high-density foam, plastic, or even metals. Some may also come in foldable and adjustable designs that allow you the chance to determine the amount of light you want in your rig, like this one on Amazon. All these, in addition to the vent cushion's sound-dampening and light-blocking features, simply keep your RV comfortable with less energy, effort, and cost involved. With just around $25 (or even less), getting yourself a vent cushion can make all the difference when you're camping in your RV on a budget.

As an RVer who's concerned about budget, it's quite easy to focus on more obvious gear like solar panels or backup batteries at the expense of seemingly small upgrades like vent cushions. But if you think about it, you'll realize that proper insulation is key in relation to temperature control. So in your process of planning a successful RV trip, factoring in vent cushions would be a great consideration. Indeed, whether for full-timers, snowbirds, or even families traveling with pets, there's no doubting the importance of maintaining a livable interior by having control over temperature fluctuations.

Installing an RV vent cushion or cover comes with no real hassle, as you can just easily press the cushion into your vent opening. Removing it is just as simple as that. They're also a flexible tool, as they not only control temperature and keep noise away, but they also protect from the elements, debris, and even nosy critters. Compatibility is also not a problem, since most RV vents have the standard sizing of 14" × 14" — still, be sure to confirm yours to avoid disappointment. Finally, RV vent cushions are easy to store, and if you want certain aesthetic preferences rather than basic ones, there are a variety of options on different online retail outlets like Amazon.